A Kiss Before Dying (1960) Parents Guide: Is the book OK for kids?

Name: A Kiss Before Dying
Rating: 3.2 (5 reviews)
Author: Ira Levin

Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language

A Kiss Before Dying is the story of young man who has just come out of the horror of World War II and is loath to return to the quieter horror of the manufacturing town he grew up in. These two backgrounds have made him what he is: a young man on the make possessing a complete immorality in the ways he makes it. When he meets Dorothy Kingship, who loves him deeply and whose father just happens to be the copper king of America, he has it made. But so devious is his brilliant mind and so strange is fate that it is only with her murder… Sign up for the full guide

Adult • 1960 • 288 pages • Grade 10+

by Ira Levin

3.2

Average rating by Bontent members

Age

16+

This classic psychological thriller earns its recommended age due to its cold, calculated depictions of murder and the protagonist's sociopathic manipulation of three sisters. Parents should note scenes of domestic homicide, including a woman being pushed off a roof, as well as wartime trauma and a graphic finale involving molten copper. It is intended for mature teens and adults interested in a dark exploration of greed and… Sign up for the full guide

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Is A Kiss Before Dying appropriate for kids?

Content severity in A Kiss Before Dying

Sex Moderate 3/10

Violence Intense 8/10

Language Moderate 3/10

Substances Mild 2/10

Themes Strong 7/10

What happens in A Kiss Before Dying, moment by moment

p. 8 🍷 Substances 2/10
p. 15 ⚔ Violence & Gore 6/10
p. 28 🍷 Substances 2/10

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Sex and nudity in A Kiss Before Dying

Mild to moderate sexual content is present as a plot device for the protagonist's financial ambitions. While Bud Corliss uses seduction as a primary tool to infiltrate the Kingship family, physical acts are kept off-page or described in clinical, transactional terms. References to an unplanned pregnancy drive the conflict of the first act when Dorothy reveals she is pregnant, which Bud views as a hurdle to his plans. There are brief, suggestive descriptions of Bud's attractiveness and his calculated attempts to…

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Violence and gore in A Kiss Before Dying

Strong violence characterizes the novel, including the cold-blooded premeditated murder of two sisters. In the first act, Bud tricks Dorothy Kingship into writing a suicide note before pushing her off a high-rise roof to her death. A disturbing flashback depicts Bud killing a Japanese sniper during WWII after mocking the man's fear, establishing his early sociopathic tendencies. The climax features a visceral scene where the protagonist panics, loses control of his bodily functions in terror, and falls into a vat…

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Language in A Kiss Before Dying

Moderate language usage is consistent with the period-typical conventions of a mid-20th-century psychological thriller. The text includes some instances of 'hell,' 'damn,' and 'bastard,' but it lacks the pervasive profanity found in modern suspense novels. When used, the language serves to highlight moments of extreme tension or the inner frustration of the protagonist. A few derogatory terms or slightly aggressive insults appear during confrontations between Bud and those who threaten his plans. Overall, the…

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Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in A Kiss Before Dying

Mild substance use appears throughout the novel in the form of social drinking and smoking, which were culturally ubiquitous in the 1950s. Characters often consume cocktails, highballs, or sherry during social gatherings at the Kingship estate or in restaurants. Bud uses the ritual of drinking to appear sophisticated and to lower the guard of his targets. Smoking is frequent, with characters lighting cigarettes to calm their nerves or as a social lubricant. There is no significant focus on intoxication…

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Mature themes in A Kiss Before Dying

Strong. Psychopathy, extreme entitlement, misogynistic manipulation, and the cold calculation of murder are central themes. The protagonist’s relationship with his doting mother adds a layer of psychological complexity.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is A Kiss Before Dying appropriate for kids?

Bontent's parent guide suggests A Kiss Before Dying is best for ages 16+. This classic psychological thriller earns its recommended age due to its cold, calculated depictions of murder and the protagonist's sociopathic manipulation of three sisters. Parents should note scenes of domestic…

What age rating does A Kiss Before Dying have?

Books don't carry official age ratings. A Kiss Before Dying is shelved by its publisher as Adult, but that's a marketing category, not a content rating — Bontent's own review of what's actually on the page puts it at ages 16+.

What reading level is A Kiss Before Dying?

A Kiss Before Dying is 288 pages and its reading level is Grade 10+. Bontent recommends it for ages 16+.

What is A Kiss Before Dying about?

Is there sex or nudity in A Kiss Before Dying?

How violent is A Kiss Before Dying?

Is the language in A Kiss Before Dying appropriate for kids?

Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking depicted in A Kiss Before Dying?

What mature themes appear in A Kiss Before Dying?

Where can I read the full A Kiss Before Dying parent guide?

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